Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member.

RESOLVED

That:

i)       The Horsham District Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation Document be published for a six-week consultation between 17 February 2020 and 30 March 2020: and;

ii)      Authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development to agree any necessary minor editorial changes to the Horsham District Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation Document.

Reasons for Recommendations

i)          It is both necessary and appropriate to invite public and stakeholder participation in the preparation of a new Local Plan for Horsham District.

ii)         In order to ensure that the consultation documentation is accurately prepared.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Development introduced the report and said that the current Local Plan had been adopted in 2015 and the Government required all local authorities to review their Plans at least every 5 years. The purpose of revising a Local Plan was to allow a local planning authority, to refine and expand its existing policies.  There would be an increased attention on biodiversity and climate change in the council’s policies.

The report document identified a number of different sites right across the District and views were sought on whether there was potential for them to be brought forward for housing development.   At this stage, none of the sites had been agreed for development and information was being published purely for consultation purposes. Whilst it was important that a timetable for a new Local Plan be maintained, she expressed concern at the difficulty of achieving the unprecedented housing numbers that the Government had set the Council.

The consultation would run from 17 February to 30 March and the document would be available online at www.horsham.gov.uk/localplan. Hard copies would be available in local libraries and in the Council building.

In reply to a question from a member of the public regarding coastal housing market areas, the Cabinet Member went on to say that all Local Plans must be underpinned by up-to-date evidence that met national planning requirements. The review of housing needs was set out in the Strategic Housing Market Assessment. The housing market areas, which were identified in 2016,  were  signed off by Mid Sussex District Council.

In reply to a further question, she confirmed that the only decision that Cabinet would make at this meeting was whether the draft Local Plan should be published for consultation or not.  None of the sites included in the document had been agreed for development.

RESOLVED

That:

i)       The Horsham District Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation Document be published for a six-week consultation between 17 February 2020 and 30 March 2020: and;

ii)      Authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development to agree any necessary minor editorial changes to the Horsham District Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation Document.

Reasons for Recommendations

i)          It is both necessary and appropriate to invite public and stakeholder participation in the preparation of a new Local Plan for Horsham District.

ii)         In order to ensure that the consultation documentation is accurately prepared.